italian football player

Stefano Chuka Okaka ( italian pronunciation : [ ˈsteːfano oˈkaːka ] ; born 9 August 1989 ) is an italian football player who plays as a forward for Süper Lig club Istanbul Basaksehir and the Italy national team. He began his career at Roma, debuting concisely after his 16th birthday and being loaned to respective early teams for the duration of his sign. He totalled over 125 Serie A games for that golf club, Bari, Parma, Sampdoria and Udinese. Abroad, he played 47 Premier League matches for Fulham and Watford, and had a temper in Belgium with Anderlecht.

Club career [edit ]

read-only memory [edit ]

Born in Castiglione del Lago, Umbria, Italy to nigerian parents who former obtained italian citizenship, Okaka joined the Roma young system in 2004. He was depart of the team that won the U-20 national title in 2005 and scored goals against Juventus in the semi-final and Atalanta in the final. On 29 September 2005, at the old age of 16 years, 51 days he made his debut with the first team in the UEFA Cup, playing against Aris. He frankincense became the youngest football player to debut in an external contest for an italian team. [ 3 ] Okaka scored his first goal for Roma in a Coppa Italia match against Napoli on 8 December, with a knock-down run from midfield and a precise shot to the leave of the goalkeeper, making him the youngest goalscorer in the competition at the long time of 16 years, 121 days. [ 4 ] He made his Serie A debut with the club late that calendar month, on 18 December, at the age of 16 years and 125 days, in a 1–1 away draw against Sampdoria. [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] Okaka scored his first Serie A goal on 17 September 2006, concluding a 3–1 win over Siena, just 38 days after his seventeenth birthday, after coming on as a substitute for Francesco Totti. He made his introduction in the UEFA Champions League ten days late, in a 2–1 away loss to Valencia, aged 17 years, 49 days. [ 4 ] Okaka was subsequently loaned to Serie B side Modena for the 2007–08 temper in regulate to gain some first team experience. He scored seven times in 33 appearances. [ 7 ] After returning to Roma, he signed a newly contract which lasted until 30 June 2012. As a part of it, he earned a crude annual wage of €600,000 in the beginning two seasons, which then increased to €700,000 and €900,000. [ 8 ] He besides spent a six-month lend period at Brescia in Serie B from January to June 2009, where he scored two goals in 16 appearances. [ 9 ] On 6 August 2009, alternate Okaka scored his first goal with Roma in a continental competition, the final finish in a 7–1 acquire away to Gent in the second stage of the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League third qualifying orotund ( 10–2 sum ). [ 10 ] He scored again in the Europa League in Roma ‘s 2–0 succeed over CSKA Sofia and in Roma ‘s 2–1 winnings over Fulham. His last goal with Roma was an 88th-minute winner against Siena. On 1 February 2010, he joined Fulham on loan until the end of the season. He made his debut in the 1–0 win over Portsmouth on 3 February, and scored his first goal for the cabaret eleven days late in a fifth round of golf FA Cup draw at home to Notts County. [ 11 ] He scored his first league goal for the clubhouse against Wigan Athletic on 4 April, in a 2–1 win at Craven Cottage. [ 12 ] He was cup-tied for Fulham ‘s campaign to the 2010 UEFA Europa League Final. [ 13 ] In January 2011 Okaka moved to Bari on loanword. There, he scored his beginning goal against Lecce for 1–0 win. In this game he and Kamil Glik marking their debuts for Bari. He scored one far goal for Bari that season. Okaka sustained an wound in round 30 and missed the rest of the season. In August 2011, Okaka was attacked by Roma fans after a train session for allegedly not wishing to sign autograph. [ 14 ]

Parma [edit ]

After failing to make a single appearance for Roma in the beginning half of the season, on 22 January 2012, Okaka joined Parma on loanword until the end of the season. [ 15 ] He scored his first goal on 7 March, the undoer in a 2–2 against Fiorentina. Okaka signed a permanent deal with Parma on 20 August 2012. The follow day he was loaned to the newly promoted Serie B club Spezia where he made 38 appearances, scoring seven goals and assisting six more. After his loanword spell, he returned to Parma for the 2013–14 season, making lone two Serie A matches as a alternate. [ 16 ]

Sampdoria [edit ]

On 31 January 2014, Okaka was transferred to the boyfriend Serie A equip Sampdoria on a permanent deal, with Nicola Pozzi moving the diametric guidance. [ 17 ] He made a good beginning to his Sampdoria career, scoring five times in 13 appearances in the 2013–14 season. He scored his inaugural goal of the 2014–15 season on 14 September 2014, a alone feat, in the 2–0 victory against Torino on 14 September 2014. [ 18 ] On 10 June 2015, the owner and president of Sampdoria Massimo Ferrero told the italian media that Okaka would be leaving the cabaret. [ 19 ]

Anderlecht [edit ]

On 28 July 2015, Okaka joined belgian side Anderlecht from Sampdoria for a report fee of €3 million. [ 20 ]

Watford / Udinese [edit ]

On 29 August 2016, Okaka joined Watford from Anderlecht on a five-year contract. [ 21 ] He scored his beginning two goals on 10 December, against Everton in a 3–2 gain. [ 22 ] In his second base season, after the passing of compatriot coach Walter Mazzarri, he was more use as a substitute ; his one finish came on open day, opening a 3–3 tie with Liverpool at Vicarage Road. [ 23 ] On 8 January 2019, Okaka was loaned to Udinese for the rest of the Serie A season, having played fair 47 minutes for Watford all season across three substitute appearances. Both clubs were owned by Giampaolo Pozzo. [ 24 ] He scored six goals in 16 games as the Bianconeri avoided relegation, including braces in straight wins over Frosinone and SPAL in May. [ 25 ] [ 26 ] Okaka ‘s move to Udinese was made permanent on 2 September 2019, on a three-year contract. [ 27 ]

International career [edit ]

After gaining italian citizenship in 2007, Okaka was selected for the italian Under-19 side. He made his debut for the Italy U-20 team in 2008, scoring two goals. [ 2 ] On 17 November 2009, he made his debut with the Italy U-21 police squad in a match against Luxembourg. In April 2014, Okaka revealed he was in talks with the Nigeria Football Federation about the possibility of him switching allegiance to his parents ‘ state and play with the Nigeria national football team already at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. [ 28 ] however, Okaka was included in the Italy team for their friendly against Albania on 18 November 2014 by director Antonio Conte. He made his debut as a substitute, replacing Sebastian Giovinco in the second gear half, and scored the only goal of the match in the victory at Sampdoria ‘s dwelling land, the Stadio Luigi Ferraris. [ 29 ]

personal life [edit ]

Okaka ‘s twin sister, Stefania Okaka, is besides a professional sportsperson. [ 30 ] A volleyball player, she plays for Béziers Volley of the French first division [ 31 ] and the italian national team .

career statistics [edit ]

club [edit ]

As of 20 November 2021[32]

International [edit ]

As of 15 November 2020.[2][32]
Italy
Year Apps Goals
2014 1 1
2015 2 0
2016 1 0
2017
2018
2019
2020 1 0
Total 5 1
Scores and results list Italy’s goal tally first.[2][33]
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 18 November 2014 Stadio Luigi Ferraris, Genoa, Italy  Albania 1–0 1–0 Friendly

References [edit ]